MAY 6

Matthew 15:1-20
Memorise Matthew 15:14
"… Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."

SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT OFFENDING OTHERS?

The Pharisees, especially in the time of Jesus, were known for their hy­pocrisy. They showed an outward display of religiosity but had no spir­ituality. They were men who thought of themselves as being far more pious (holier-than-thou) than the common folk, professing faith but not possessing it. For this very reason, Jesus had to point out their hypocrisy and their errors in teaching the wrong doctrines. Jesus described them as people who "draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do wor­ship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men… Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man" (Matthew 15:8-11). These were strong words spoken! The disciples came to Jesus and asked Him if He knew that His words caused the Pharisees to be very offended. Do you think Jesus were worried that He offended them?

The answer is no! The disciples should have known the purposes for which Jesus came to earth. He was not on earth to please men, but God. He had come to do the will of His Father and it pleased the Father that Jesus exposed the errors of those false teachers. Jesus was using the emblem of a plant to represent a doctrine and every doctrine which was not from God needed to be uprooted – they needed to be exposed, opposed and rejected by all men. Jesus then told His disciples that they should not be troubled that the hypocrites were offended – it should be expected! And the reason why Jesus and the disciples should not be worried about offending others is because "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." There is a need to expose people and their false teachings; else both they and their followers will be destroyed.

Therefore, let us not worry or let the fear of man hinder us from speaking up for God. The truth may offend, but it our duty that we expose, oppose and reject all doctrines which are not of God. This means that even if our friends or family sincerely hold to a belief which is not based on God’s Word, it is our duty to speak up out of love and correct them. We know that when the blind follow the blind, the truth will be hid, and the gospel corrupted, and there is only one dreadful destination for those who are deceived – eternal judgment in hell. May God help us to speak up for Him even if the truth will offend.

Thought: How many times have I not spoken up for God when I should have?
Prayer: O Lord, help me have the courage to speak up for Thee.